How to remove viruses from an Android phone . If your Android phone or tablet is running hard, you may have a virus. We’ll talk about how to remove viruses from Android, plus how to avoid malware.
Android viruses are rare, but they exist. Almost exclusively installed through malicious applications, the best way to prevent a virus on Android is to keep the Google Play Store secure limits.
When Google becomes aware of a malicious application, it will automatically remove it from all affected devices, which happened exactly in January 2018, when it discovered 60 Android apps that exposed children to pornography. More recently, in March it released seven applications containing Hidden malware , which show ads and notifications six hours after installation.
If your device is infected with malware, follow the steps below to resolve the issue:
- Put it in Safe mode .
- If you can disable the malicious application.
- Uninstall the application .
If nothing is resolved with the above steps you will need a factory reset, so you should remove the virus once and for all.
Highlights
- Where do the viruses come from on Android ?
- How to avoid viruses and malware on Android ?
Where do the viruses come from on Android?
The only way an Android virus is on a phone or tablet is from an app.
This is true of all the biggest Android viruses that have hit the headlines over the past few years: Gunpoder , Ghost Trojan , Googlian and Godless have come this way, while slipping through a text message asking you to download Tor browser.
Even the recent Loapi is installed outside of the Google Play Store. The Loapi Trojan is a new disruptive threat that is installed by antivirus applications that a user believes they are installing to protect their device.
Such a virus on the device can overheat the battery; it can also send text messages on your behalf, subscribe to paid services without your knowledge, allow attackers to execute HTTP requests for DDoS attacks, etc.
Skygofree is another puppy of Android malware, however we can call it powerful spyware, which is installed on the device via download links from fake sites that are given as official sites for known brands such as be the mobile operators.
Android viruses have various purposes, usually steal personal information, or download additional software. No matter what they do, these viruses certainly don’t want something on the phone.
How to avoid viruses and malware on Android
Do not install applications outside of Google Play unless you know what you are doing: the feature that allows you to download applications outside of the Google Play Store should be disabled, but you can check if it is enabled, open the Settings menu on your phone or tablet, go to the Security section , then make sure the Unknown Source option is turned off. If you are installing an application outside of the Google Play Store, make sure you install it from a legitimate source and not a fake website that has an official source.
Avoid cloned applications : Avoid downloading cloned applications from unknown developers or applications that simply do not do what they say.
Check application permissions : No matter where you install an application, check the required permissions before installing.
Also Read : New Android smartphones under fire from hackers – or yours too?
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